Gabby Agbonlahor has backed Liam Rosenior’s decision to drop Enzo Fernandez and insisted Real Madrid will not shell out to sign him.
Blues boss Rosenior announced on Friday that he had suspended vice-captain Fernandez for his side’s next two games, after fuelling rumours he could leave to join the Spanish giants.
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The midfielder appeared to cast doubt over his Chelsea future in recent weeks, with LaLiga giants Real touted as his potential next destination.
Asked in a recent interview if he could live in another country, Fernandez replied: “I really like Madrid, it’s similar to Buenos Aires.”
This came after he appeared to criticise the club’s board following their 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
talkSPORT understands Fernandez’s dream move is Real Madrid, while he joined a new management agency in December, which is based in the Spanish capital.
But his public comments have now landed him in hot water, with the Blues star set to miss their FA Cup visit of Port Vale on Saturday, and their crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City a week later.
Confirming the decision, Rosenior said in a press conference: “I spoke with Enzo an hour ago. As a football club, with me as part of that process, we’ve made a decision.
“He won’t be available for tomorrow’s games, and he won’t be available for Manchester City next Sunday.”
Rosenior also added that he felt a ‘line was crossed’ by Fernandez, but insisted the sanction does not mean his Chelsea career is over.
Agbonlahor reacts to Fernandez suspension
talkSPORT understands Chelsea’s owners support Rosenior’s call and view it as strong leadership, instilling discipline and standards.
And it isn’t just the Blues board who feel this way, with ex-Premier League forward Agbonlahor slamming Fernandez for his recent behaviour, insisting his head coach was right to take action.
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On the decision to drop him, he told talkSPORT: “I like it.
“It shows no player is bigger than the club, and people have been mocking Liam Rosenior that he’s a yes-man, that’s why they brought him in.
“But he’s made a big choice here because Enzo Fernandez, World Cup winner, probably a big character in the dressing room to drop him for two important games.
“Yes, Port Vale, they win without him, but Manchester City is an important game – Chelsea need top five.
“They need their best players, so to drop him for that, I rate it highly from Liam Rosenior and the football club.”
Fernandez isn’t the only Chelsea player to make a series of bombshell comments recently, with Marc Cucurella also appearing to hit out at the club’s board, as well as leaving the door open to a Barcelona return.
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But Agbonlahor slammed the pair for this, and told them to focus on helping the Blues get through a difficult period, which has seen them slip to sixth in the Premier League table.
He raged: “These players need to stop.
“Rodri did it a few weeks ago as well. Stop talking about other football clubs. [Marc] Cucurella as well. Shut up and get your club out of the mess that they’re in.”
Agbonlahor: Real Madrid don’t need Fernandez
Both Fernandez and Cucurella have appeared to question Chelsea’s ownership decisions, including their youth-centric transfer policy and allowing former boss Enzo Maresca to leave the club in January.
However, talkSPORT understands that Rosenior has spoken to the club about strengthening his squad in the summer, with senior players being informed of this and on board, including captain Reece James, who recently penned a new long-term deal.
And Agbonlahor refused to entertain any talk that Fernandez’s outburst was prompted by Chelsea failing to match his ambition.
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Slamming the Blues star’s behaviour, he said: “What if he’s thinking like that? Speak to the football club. Stop doing interviews.
“These players are going away with international duty and they’re speaking to local media and just saying whatever they want.
“There’s got to be punishments [for] speaking like that. I didn’t like how Cucurella spoke. I didn’t like how Rodri spoke a few weeks ago about, ‘Oh, Real Madrid are the biggest club’.”
“These players are literally selling themselves out for like, ‘please come and get me’. Real Madrid don’t need any of you.”
And while Fernandez joined Chelsea for a then British record £106.8million in January 2023, Agbonlahor insisted Real Madrid will not stump up the eye-watering sum for him.
Agbonlahor said: “Real Madrid do not need Enzo Fernandez. Real Madrid will not pay what Chelsea would want, over £107m they paid for Enzo Fernandez.
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“Shut up, get your club into the Champions League. Win an FA Cup with your club, put in better performances.
“So I don’t blame the football club and Liam Rosenior for saying come on, you’re taking the mick a bit now.”
